Most of us experience anxiety and fear at times. It's a natural emotional and physical response to stress, and a normal part of life. However, for many people, anxiety is a chronic dis-ease, causing extreme worry and tension in the body and mind, even if there is little to worry about. It can be so persistent and overwhelming that it can interfere with daily living.

Someone who feels excessive anxiety about everyday problems may have a condition known as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Because anxiety is such a common emotion, GAD can go unrecognized. But it's very real, affecting about 4 million adults in the U.S. alone. Two-thirds of this population are women.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Although each anxiety disorder has distinct symptoms, they all share a common theme of irrational fear or dread.

Panic Disorder - Severe attacks of panic accompanied by physical symptoms such as chest pain, heart palpitations, fear of losing control or even dying. People also may worry about having a panic attack in a public place from which they cannot escape. They can develop agoraphobia, a fear of going out into the open.

Obsessive-compulisve Disorder (OCD) - Obsessions are repetitive thoughts and exaggerated concern about such things as contamination or improper behavior. Persons with OCD may perform compulsive rituals such as washing their hands,or rechecking over and over the stove,iron, coffee pot to make sure they are turned off.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - An anxiety syndrome that may follow a traumatic event, such as a global disaster, loss of a loved one, or a physical assult. PTSD victims may have flashbacks or nightmares, avoid places related to the trauma, and feel emotionally numb or detatched from others (dissociation).

Social anxiety Disorder, or social phobia - Extreme anxiety about being judged by others or about behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment. This disorder causes people to avoid most or all social situations.